Boarding house blues

It was his third day out of jail, third night actually. A $160 sub from Centrelink paid for a week in advance in a shithole room in a nondescript ’ hotel ’ in Footscray. With $60 to feed himself for the next ten days, he had nothing but his right hand and a stained stick book for company.Muffled conversations and a wierd cackle bled through the walls." Fuckin junkies", he sneered, " fuckin scum ".Somebody banged on his door demanding a cigarette. He shifted slightly in the bed and reached for the bed side lamp. It hit the door with a crack, exploding glass and plastic across the room. Silence ensued.A whining voice started up again behind the door, somewhat conciliatory, but still demanding.Snapping open the door he was confronted by the wino who lived at the end of the hall. He landed his best headbut upon the hapless fool, splaying blood down his blue singlet. Grabbing both piggy ears he tossed him headlong into his room." Time for fun ", he hissed.